BOOK ONE 3
Chapter 1 A small town 5
Chapter 2 A mayor 10
Chapter 3 Care of the poor 14
Chapter 4 Father and son 21
Chapter 5 Striking a bargain 26
Chapter 6 Boredom 37
Chapter 7 Elective affinities 48
Chapter 8 Minor events 62
Chapter 9 An evening in the country 73
Chapter 10 A generous heart and a meagre fortune 84
Chapter 11 In the evening 89
Chapter 12 A journey 96
Chapter 13 Openwork stockings 105
Chapter 14 A pair of English scissors 112
Chapter 15 The crowing of the cock 117
Chapter 16 The day after 122
Chapter 17 First deputy 129
Chapter 18 A king in Verrières 135
Chapter 19 Thinking brings suffering 153
Chapter 20 Anonymous letters 165
Chapter 21 Dialogue with a master 171
Chapter 22 Modes of behaviour in 1830 190
Chapter 23 The woes of a civil servant 207
Chapter 24 A capital city 227
Chapter 25 The seminary 237
Chapter 26 The world or what the rich man lacks 247
Chapter 27 First experience of life 261
Chapter 28 A procession 267
Chapter 29 First promotion 277
Chapter 30 A man of ambition 298
BOOK TWO 323
Chapter 1 Pleasures of the countryside 325
Chapter 2 Entry into society 340
Chapter 3 The first steps 351
Chapter 4 The H？tel de la Mole 356
Chapter 5 Sensitivity and a great lady's piety 373
Chapter 6 A matter of accent 377
Chapter 7 An attack of gout 387
Chapter 8 What decoration distinguishes a man? 399
Chapter 9 The ball 413
Chapter 10 Queen Marguerite 426
Chapter 11 The power of a young lady 438
Chapter 12 Might he be a Danton? 444
Chapter 13 A plot 452
Chapter 14 A young lady's thoughts 465
Chapter 15 Is it a plot? 473
Chapter 16 One o'clock in the morning 480
Chapter 17 An old sword 489
Chapter 18 Cruel moments 496
Chapter 19 The Opera Bouffe 504
Chapter 20 The Japanese vase 517
Chapter 21 The secret memorandum 526
Chapter 22 The discussion 534
Chapter 23 The clergy,forests and freedom 545
Chapter 24 Strasburg 557
Chapter 25 The Ministry of Virtue 566
Chapter 26 Propriety in love 576
Chapter 27 The best positions in the Church 581
Chapter 28 Manon Lescaur 586
Chapter 29 Boredom 592
Chapter 30 A box at the Opera Bouffe 597
Chapter 31 Frightening her 604
Chapter 31 The tiger 611
Chapter 33 The infernal torment of weakness 618
Chapter 34 A man of intelligence 626
Chapter 35 A storm 634
Chapter 36 Sorry details 641
Chapter 37 A keep 651
Chapter 38 A powerful man 658
Chapter 39 Politicking 667
Chapter 40 Tranquillity 674
Chapter 41 The trial 680
Chapter 42 690
Chapter 43 698
Chapter 44 706
Chapter 45 717
Explanatory Notes 727